This week's Weekly Geeks topic was suggested by Sheri of A Novel Menagerie. She writes:
"Reading Challenges: a help or a hurt? Do you find that the reading challenges keep you organized and goal-oriented? Or, do you find that as you near the end of a challenge that you've failed because you fell short of your original goals? As a result of some reading challenges, I've picked up books that I would have otherwise never heard of or picked up; that, frankly, I have loved. Have you experienced the same with challenges? If so, which ones? Do you have favorite reading challenges?"
As we pass the halfway point of 2009, how are you doing with your reading challenges? Did you participate in any challenges this year?
At the end of last year I made a decision to try and get through my ever expanding reading hill mountain and started surfing the net to find the right reading challenge that i wanted to get involved in to help with this.
There were hundreds really – I had an absolutely hard time choosing one or even two. After finding what i wanted – I have still yet gotten involved in monthly and mini challenges through the year.
See my full list below and how I am getting on.
RYOB 2009
The rules for this challenge are very simple…
* set a goal for how many of your OWN books you’d like to read in 2009
* read from your own collection between January 1st and December 31st, 2009
My goal for this Challenge is 450 book – up to today i am at 212 books – not including any kids book.
- Read a minimum of 9 books first published in 2009. You don’t have to buy these. Library books, unabridged audios, or ARCs are all acceptable. To qualify as being first published in 2009, it must be the first time that the book is published in your own country. For example, if a book was published in Australia, England, or Canada in 2008, and then published in the USA in 2009, it counts (if you live in the USA). Newly published trade paperbacks and mass market paperbacks do not count if there has been a hardcover/trade published before 2009. Any questions on what qualifies? Just leave a comment here, and I’ll respond with the answer.
- No children’s/YA titles allowed, since we’re at the ‘pub.’
- At least 5 titles must be fiction.
- Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
- You can add your titles as you go, and they may be changed at any time.
I read alot of present year releases so i actually didn’t set a target for the amount – The reason i got into this challenge was for the non-fiction aspect – 5 Titles non- fiction – and sad to say it half way through the year and I have not read one non-fiction title. (I need to get my skates on with this one)
I have read non-fiction but none released this year….
As a way to celebrate publishers like X Libris, Avon Red, Ellora's Cave, Samhain, Siren, etc, this challenge will focus only on erotica fiction.
Guidelines:
1. You can join anytime as long as you don’t start reading to your books prior to 2009.
2. Read 10 erotica in 2009.
3. Overlaps with other challenges are fine.
I have already completed this challenge – Which wasn’t a surprise given the amount of erotic romance books i read.
1. For the month of April, keep track of the books you read.
2. On May 1, post your list on your blog.
Three other points:
1. You may include books you re-read, so long as you re-read them in between April 1 and 30.
2. You may also include books you start but don’t finish, just note the page at which you gave it up. Something like, “Quit, page 47 of 322″.
3. Children’s books must be at least 125 pages long to be counted. (Books you read to your children, if they are at least 125 pages, would also count
Weekly geeks – read-a-thon…
read as much or as little books and take part in challenges within a 24hrs period.
When
April 18-19th
For the month of April I ended up reading 44 books and 18 of those were for the 24Hrs Read-A-Thon. I had a very productive month in April. Let me say again – Thanks everyone – again - for the loads of suppose they gave me during the read-A-thon…
What
Set a goal for the amount of m/M book to read
When
March 20, 2009 at 12am to August 31, 2009
I had set a goal for 50 books and up to toady I am at 44 books – so hopefully I should be done by the end of the month.
I recently started listening to audio books and have given myself a personal challenge to listen to all four Meyer’s books before the New Moon movie hit the big screen.
When I pinched myself as a way of saying this is what you are going to do, i did not realise that it would be so hard just to get through one of them book.
I am just about halfway through Twilight and this things is 14hrs long….. and I have another three to get through….
Wish me luck
18 Speak To Me:
Hi EH!
I love how you can change your template all the time!
I'm going to see I can figure it out for myself too.
Dottie :)
(I'd join the challenge, but I'm not really good on the follow thru, lol)
Hey Dottie..
I am still learning everyday with HtMl - it is dreadful the amount of stuff that goes into this thing...
I understand the problem with the follow through - I am still lagging behind in at least one of those challenge
E.H>
I am woefully failing in my reading challenges. There. I said it! :)
I'm reading, but I don't get time to do mini reviews and update my list. Even worse, my to-read pile hasn't dwindled much. As I said - a failure!
I always enjoy seeing what everyone else is reading though.
I'm in two reading challenges. One just started the beginning of June until December, I think it is. The other is the reread challenge. I missed April :(. But I didn't really miss it. I did read the book, I just didn't feel like posting my review!
You are one of my reading goddesses EH! lol
Good Luck to you - I don't know how you do it!! However, you ROCK...
I've not joined any reading challenges because I know I'd been stressed and having anxiety in an effort to get through them! lol
Maybe next year, we will see. :)
AWESOME POST...
L
You can seriously read girl!
I just joined my first challenge with Romance Reviews. That keeps me busy enough ;)
I like the site's new look!!
Wow, you sure do read A LOT!! That's awesome. I've only joined one reading challenge, the M/M Romance Challenge and I've read 54 of the 70 books I put on my list.
I had not heard of the others you are in, they sound interesting. Maybe there will be another challenge later on for me to join. This has one been fun.
Lily
Wow, I R-E-S-P-E-C-T any and all who can do more than one reading challenge. A friend challenged my to read the complete Bar Cynster series...like that is 16-17 books 0-0
While I enjoy historicals they're not genre of preference and Laurens is an author I read in my teenage years. Now that I am re-reading the first few and heading of in to many stories of nieces and nephews I am glad the rule was one book a month. it is all I can cope for at the moment. The days fly by and before I know it I have to read another in the series.
I like challenges and it is something I will take a serious look at in 2010. For now I will stick with my one challenge. It does keep my aware of the goal and to have read the whole series will be quite an accomplishment for me LOL
Quote: Wow, I R-E-S-P-E-C-T any and all who can do more than one reading challenge.
This so did not come out right LOL I just wanted to say kudos to all who can juggle more challenges at the same time!! I don’t think I can do multiple reading challenges, attacking my TRP, keeping up with website and blog and so on. Perhaps a time management 101 would be nice ;D
Hey Shelley..
The most important thing is that you are reading..
See how you get on at the end of the year, you just might surprise yourself.
E.H>
Hey amy..
You have summed up one of my big failings - I read some books and really don't feel like reviewing it..
mmmmm ...
as I always say, next month will be better..
E.H>
Hey Lea.
bowing deeply...
Next year, i am not doing any at all...
I'm not, i really am not.. I mean it..
E.H>
Mandy..
I did see that challenge - and i see everyone enjoying it..
Too much on my plate to do one more.
E.H>
Hey Lily..
I am loving the M/M challenge.. if it happens again next year I am going to do it..
And probably add a little spin to it.
Just 6 to go for me to finish... I see your numbers decreasing ever time I am at your place..
E.H>
Leontine..
What a challenge to take on - I have never gotten caught up in Laurens book, as you said nieces and nephews...
It got too much after awhile...
I like the structure a challenge give to my reading...
E.H>
I really enjoyed your Weekly Geeks post. I also participate in the Read Your Own Books Challenge. It's surprising to me how many I don't purchase!
Sheri
First of all: Good Luck! :)
Not that you really need it, because my... you certainly read A LOT! I'm glad if I can manage 25-30 books a YEAR! :)
Btw, I'm not sure if I understand it correctly: do you have to read at least 5 fiction or non-fiction books published this year for 'The Pub'?
I hope I'll have time to post about my challenges soon! ;)
Wow, that's an amazing amount of reading for one year. Great job! I'm enjoying the RYOB Challenge, too. I love reading challenges that don't have too many rules and regs.
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